Elena Gilbert couldn't contain her excitement. It was her wedding day. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. The deep colour of the dress made her smile. The rubies were set in her hair. She saw exactly how she had looked in the dream. Then a thought occurred to her

"Why did I chose this dress?"

But her attention was drawn to her bridesmaids. Their deep blue dresses were perfect. Elena glanced up as Matt appeared. He looked at her with an odd expression on his face.

"Matt?"

"You look beautiful." he said to her.

She grinned at him "Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself Matt." she gave him a quick hug. "Is there any sign of Damon?" she asked hopefully. He shook his head and she looked down, disappointed.

"He'll be here." Said Matt. Elena looked up at the tone he used. "You really think, after all you went through he wouldn't be at your wedding? Now smile! It's your big day!" Matt grinned at her, before leaving. He had his place to be. Elena thought about how accepting he had been to be Stefan's best man.

Elena felt nervous when she heard the music start up. Tonight was the night that she would ask Stefan to give her his blood. Tonight was the beginning of the rest of her existence.

She walked down the isle, following Bonnie and Meredith. She glanced at Caroline, smiling at the girl. Then she looked up to meet Damon's eyes. Relief flooded through her.

She made her way up to stand next to the groom, feeling his presence beside her she felt like she could float away. They exchanged their vows, and she looked up to meet his eyes, and gasped in shock. Where was Stefan? Damon stood before her, looking down at her with his smouldering black eyes. They were narrowed thoughtfully.

"Damon?" she asked. Something was very very wrong. He opened his mouth to speak to her, and blood poured out. His eyes widened in fear. He closed his mouth. She took his hand to comfort him. Damon looked as confused as Elena felt. Neither of them knew what was going on. And where was Stefan? She looked around. Everyone else acted as if this were normal. Had they not seen the blood? Did they not see that she had just agreed to marry who should have been her brother in law? It was then she realised she was dreaming and glared at Damon.

"I should have known you'd do something like this!" she told him angrily. "Now stop playing games." Damon only looked at her. Then his body crumbled and was gone.

"Damon no!" she sat up screaming. Elena looked around her dark bedroom. It was the night before her wedding, and she or Stefan hadn't heard from Damon since the night he had given them his gift. Stefan was no where in sight. That didn't comfort her.

Bonnie and Meredith came running in. "Elena?" she just stared at them.

"I'm ok" she lied. "Just a bad dream. Go back to your rooms." they gave her an odd look, but did as she said. Elena went to the door and let herself out onto the balcony.

"Damon," she whispered "I know you're there. I need to see you….NOW!" she put forth all her emotions, hoping it would attract his attention. She needed to see him. After the dream, she needed to know he was ok.

A crow flew down and landed on the railing next to where she stood, looking at her. She tried to look stern, but failed and was soon crying. The crow cocked it's head, and then he had his arms wrapped around her. She cried for a while, him just holding her. Then she looked up at him trying to find the right words.

"That was some dream you had." He told her.

"It wasn't your doing?" she asked. He shook his head.

"Well, just a little. I was trying to let you know I would be at the wedding tomorrow." His lopsided smile made her feel slightly better. But fear snaked through her. She remembered how he had crumbled. The thought of losing Damon sent sadness through her. Again her mind threw a mocking question at her and she groaned, pulling away from Damon. This was a great time to start having doubts. Elena looked at the city.

"I need to think." she told him.

"Will that involve walking?" He asked. She nodded.

"I think better when I'm walking." she said softly. Damon nodded slowly.

"I'm not letting you go alone though. I'll fly overhead and watch out for you." Elena was touched. She turned to take the human way down, but Damon shook his head.

"Not that way," He told her. She felt his arms around her once more, as he took her down to the streets below the way a vampire travels. She pulled away from him, thinking that this time tomorrow night, she would be able to do it herself. Damon took on his crow form, and she was alone. Or alone as someone could be with a crow flying above them. She walked for an hour, not knowing where she was going, and ended up at the gardens. She walked up the isle that she would be walking up the next day.

"I can't do this." she told herself. "I can't marry one brother but desire another. I've got to stop this now." Elena, with resolve in her mind headed back home, forgetting Damon completely. She was scared now at what she was about to do. Then Damon landed beside her.

"You'll break his heart you know." he told her. She nodded in agreement.

"I know, but I…" Damon silenced her. He understood. She was glad that one brother understood.

"Now I know what Katherine went through" she muttered. "she was right, it's so hard to choose." Damon stiffened beside her.

"Katherine was foolish." He replied coldly. "You made your choice a long time ago. And as much as it pains me to say, you and him belong together." Elena stopped walking and faced Damon.

"Damon, I thought you understood. I…." again he silenced her.

"I showed you your world Elena. It's in the light with my brother."

"But you also told me I'm in between worlds." she told him. He nodded.

"You always will be. And I'll be there in the darkness next to you always. When you return as a vampire, we can hunt together, when ever you want. But you will be marrying my brother tomorrow, and that's all there is too it." his expression was closed to her. Elena couldn't help but notice how much he had changed. But she also realised he was right. She did belong with Stefan, and her heart knew it. He walked her back to her apartment, and was gone. She went back to her warm bed, and slept, a dreamless sleep.